Paint and other cans and tubes



(No Model.)

P. R. GROUT.

PAINT AND OTHER CANS AND TUBES.

No. 253.280. Patented Feb. 7,1882.

( [nae/6807+.-

W VaWM L i W by L/ZZlr/ieysf NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

FRANK It. GROUT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PAINT AND OTHER CANS AND TUBES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 253,280, dated February '7', 1882,

Application filed December 16, 1881. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK R. GROUT, of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Paint and other Cans and Tubes, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation in plan, with portions of the same broken away to show the interior construction; and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bottom of my improved can or tube.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the different figures.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap and durable can or tube for the holding of paints, oils, ointments, cosmetics, condensed milk, and other like materials, but especially the former, portions of which are required to be used from time to time, while the'remaining portion is desired to be kept free from atmospheric contact. A further object is to provide such a can or tube as may be filled, discharged in the manner hereinafter set forth, and again refilled.

It is well known that the cans and tubes in common use are thrown away as worthless when their contents are removed. Thus notonlythe cans themselves are necessarilylost, but when the contents are not immediately used they become wasted or impaired by dust and atmospheric contact. By the use of my improved can I am enabled to use such portion of the contents as may be required from time to time, and preserve the remainder intact until the entire contents are exhausted, when the can or tube may be refilled an indefinite number of times.

My invention consists in a cylindrical tube or can formed from metal, porcelain, glass, china,-or other suitable material, but preferably the former, having a screw-thread cut, pressed, orotherwise suitably molded or formed upon its surface, preferably throughout the entire length of the same. The bottom, consisting preferably of cork screwed into the lower end of the tube, and fitting closely into the screw-threads, forms a follower, which, upon being turned, as hereinafter described, forces the contents ofthe can or tube upward through the orifice or outlet thereof in proportion as the follower is moved.

A, Fig. 1, represents my improved can with the screw-threads a formed therein. B is the follower,preferabl y made of cork or other elastic substance, which is constructed of sufficient thickness to give it the necessary strength, provided with a metallic plate, b, having a slot, 0, cut therein, and secured by brads d (1, screws, or other suitable fastenings, to the follower B. When the follower B is placed in the lower end of the tube and the latter filled with paint or other such substance a driver may be inserted in the slot 0, whereby the follower B may be turned, if desired, to the top of the can, thus expelling any part or all of its contents.

Instead of the slot 0, a thumb-piece or projection for insertion into the socket of a socketwrenchmay be used; but I prefer the slot 0.

In place of the plate b any other suitable device for engagement with the follower may be adopted.

In an inferior form of construction the follower B may be inclosed within the bottom of the can, and turned by means of a rod or other suitable device.

The follower B, instead of being made of cork, may be a short cylinder of wood with a screw-thread turned around its side, and, if preferred, a packing of felt or other suitable material used in connection therewith. This or some other such variation may be used to advantage in cans of large diameter. In such case the follower or bottom may be made with a projection or slot therein, thus avoiding the necessity for the use of the metal plate I).

In constructing the top of cans for ordinary purposes, I attach a nipple, C,'with any suitaable cap or arrangement for closing the same.

Instead of the nipple and cap, as shown in the drawings, a nozzle may be attached, in which case the tube or can may be used in place of the ordinary oil-can, its advantages being that a fixed amount of oil may be discharged, thus preventing a waste of oil and securing a more uniform and certain lubrication of machinery whereit is used.

When the body of the can is formed from wood, glass, porcelain, earthen or stone ware, or other such material, if preferred, the screw spiral or thread may be formed within the interior of the cylinder, leaving the exterior thereof plain, or in any form desired.

It is obvious that a coil of wire or other material attached to the inside of a plain cylinder would only be an inferior but more expensive variation of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isv 1. A cylindrical can or tube, the cylinder being provided with a spiral screw-thread, and the bottom of the can being a follower fitting into such spiral screw-thread upon the cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose set 15 forth.

2. A cylindrical can or tube, the cylinder being provided with an internal spiral screwthread, and containing a follower mounted in the screw-thread for discharging the contents 20 

